Industrial Design & Rotational Molding 

Posted by Michael Paloian on 23 June 2010

 

Rotational molders are familiar with engineers and product designers, however many are unfamiliar with a segment of the design community referred to as industrial designers. Although the term industrial design may be unfamiliar to the majority of the population, the creative output from this group of professionals has a major impact on everyone’s daily lives and the world economy. Virtually every mass produced product ranging from automobiles to passenger jets to I-pods have been designed by an industrial designer. Industrial designers are responsible for adding value to products by creatively integrating technology with aesthetic and ergonomic considerations. Industrial designers bridge engineering considerations such as function, structural requirements and manufacturing with marketing requirements based on user needs.  

 

Most products can benefit from industrial designers, since the design methodology is quite different from that of an engineer or product designer. Classic design engineering problem solving methods are based on a series of logically progressive development steps exclusively based on functional requirements. Designs are often evolved from the inside to the outside. The end result is often a product that works but may not be appealing to the end user because of its poor appearance, lack of comfort, safety, or size. Industrial designers on the other hand are not as focused on the functional requirements as engineers. Their focus is the user and purpose of the product within its intended application. This approach to design includes a much broader set of criteria and most often a very different order of priors for design specifications, resulting in vastly different design solutions. Successful industrial design solutions typically integrate functional requirements with the bigger picture of how the product will be perceived and used by the end user.  

 

This delicate balance of design criteria can be quite difficult and is often over simplified by most manufacturers. All too frequently critical design considerations are omitted or improperly prioritized resulting in serious problems after the product has been sold. It is essential to include every factor that may influence a product’s design at the beginning of its development process to maximize its chances of market success. Well trained industrial designers can provide a development team with insight as well as creative solutions. Frequently creative design solutions will eliminate complex problems at the source by replacing the root cause of the problem with a much better alternative.  

 

Successful products are often associated with attractive appearance and quality. I don’t know anyone who shows off a cheap plastic watch or a flimsy piece of low cost furniture. This innate sense of value is shared by everyone and is a basic part of the human psyche. Whether you’re purchasing a car for yourself or 5000 kayaks for your company, your purchasing decisions will be based on one thing, value. Value is your perception of cost versus benefits and is directly associated with profit. Because value is based on perception, it can be manipulated with good design and marketing. Quality design can actually increase a product’s value by changing one’s desire for a product. Although the actual production cost may not be any greater than another product, a more desirable product will command a higher price. This is known as product branding and is strategic to such companies as Nike, Sony, Rolex, BMW, and thousands of other companies who are extremely aware of image.  

 

Next time you are involved in developing a new product try to remember a few of these facts and contact an industrial designer for some input. You may discover that the dynamics of your entire product development process may take a totally different path, concluding with some surprising results. You may find yourself expanding into new markets, increasing your profits or selling much more product. Remember that products sell because of their value which is based on a balance of need, quality and price. As you increase value, you will increase your profits and sales. Value is directly influenced by design.

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